Tearful Andy Roddick bids farewell after US Open defeat

An emotional Andy Roddick left Arthur Ashe Stadium for the final time on Wednesday evening as Juan Martin Del Potro brought the curtain down on the American's career.

Roddick had won two matches after announcing last week that the US Open would be his last but there was to be no dream ending as Del Potro won their fourth-round match 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic.

It was fitting that Roddick's final moments in tennis should be played out on Arthur Ashe - the court where he enjoyed his biggest success when he won the title in 2003.

The match had begun on Tuesday before rain interrupted and for a while he looked like he might extend his career in glorious fashion with victory over the seventh seed.

They resumed in a first-set tie-break and Roddick dropped only one of the first seven points, but Del Potro levelled and from there the Argentinian was in control.

Roddick struggled to control his emotions towards the end of the match and was in floods of tears at the end as he addressed the crowd.

He said: "For the first time in my career I'm not sure what to say. I've loved every minute of it. I love you guys with all my heart. Hopefully I'll come back to this place someday and see you all again."

Speaking to the press a bit later, Roddick said: "It was tough. Once he got up in that match it was a different set of circumstances than my previous matches.

"Then you start thinking about how real it is and a lot of thoughts go through your head. You're thinking about matches you're playing when you're 12 or I was thinking about my mom driving me to practices all over the place.

"You just think about a million things. Then all of a sudden you have to play a point against one of the best players in the world. It certainly was a mixed bag there at the end.

"Playing the last five games was pretty hard. Once I got down a break I could barely look at my box. I don't know what the emotions are. I'm a little overwhelmed right now.

"I normally feel like I can grasp things pretty quickly and clearly. I certainly don't feel that way right now."

In explaining his decision, Roddick had cited the physical wear and tear that had left him unable to play at the level that took him to five grand slam finals, including three losses to Roger Federer at Wimbledon.

He added: "I'm not ignorant to the fact that it's a huge part of me and that I won't miss it - of course I will. I'm not pretending like there aren't going to be hard days. But I feel pretty settled in the decision and I feel content and happy with it."

Del Potro is now three wins away from repeating his US Open success of 2009 but he knew the moment was certainly not about him.

The Argentinian said: "It was a really tough moment for me and for him also. The last point of his life. The crowd was amazing for both players. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't easy for me to play.

"Of course it was an amazing moment for me also winning the match. But I think the words are enough for this moment. He has to enjoy his life and I would like to congratulate him because he made an unbelievable career."

Djokovic had also been held up by rain on Tuesday but he strolled through to the quarter-finals on Wednesday, helped by the retirement of opponent Stanislas Wawrinka with illness when the defending champion led 6-4 6-1 3-1.

The weather has been a big factor at the US Open recently, with the men's final played on the third Monday for the last four years.

Tournament organisers have so far failed to spell out plans for a roof at Flushing Meadows beyond saying there will be one at some stage, but Djokovic's main gripe is with something much simpler.

He said: "It was very difficult conditions because we had to wait the whole day yesterday. I spent 10 hours in this club and then eventually got to the court and played two games with several interruptions because of the rain.

"It is something you cannot affect, obviously. I still believe that the most logical solution, if you still don't get a roof here, is to get covers on the court.

"I don't understand why a single hard-court event does not have and didn't think of covering the court. It obviously saves at least 30 minutes.

"I was asking questions the last couple of years at events, 'Why didn't you come up with this?' Really no answer, but they are just saying, 'It's a good idea'. I really hope that they will reconsider."

PA